Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 11 · 2026-07-27

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

You work for an international company. You have seen an advertisement for a training course which will be useful for your job.

Write a letter to your manager. In your letter

• describe the training course you want to do
• explain what the company could do to help you
• say how the course will be useful for your job

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear Sir or Madam,

Student answer (Band 8.5)

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to request your approval to attend a Project Management Professional Skills training course that will be held next month. The course lasts for four weeks, with classes on Saturdays, so it will not affect my regular working hours. It focuses on project planning, communication, teamwork, and time management.

I would be grateful if the company could support me by covering the course fee and allowing me to use the company's learning resources if needed. If possible, I would also appreciate receiving paid leave on the day of the final assessment.

I believe this course will be highly beneficial for my current role. It will improve my ability to organize projects, manage deadlines more effectively, and communicate better with colleagues and clients. The new skills and practical knowledge I gain will help me contribute more efficiently to our team's success and improve the quality of my work.

Thank you for considering my request. I look forward to your positive response.

Yours faithfully,

Gurinder

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The letter fully addresses all three bullet points in the prompt. You clearly describe the Project Management course, specify the support requested from the company (covering fees and paid leave), and explain the professional benefits. The tone is appropriate for a formal business letter, and the purpose is clear from the outset. The ideas are well-developed and relevant to the task, providing a logical flow that makes the request persuasive and easy to follow. You have successfully met all requirements of the task instructions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The letter is logically organized, with each paragraph focusing on a specific requirement of the prompt. The progression of ideas is smooth, moving from the request to the support needed, and finally to the benefits for the company. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'If possible,' 'I believe,' and 'In addition' (implied through structure), which help link the sentences together naturally. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different sections of the letter, ensuring the reader can follow your argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for a formal business context. Phrases such as 'request your approval,' 'highly beneficial,' and 'contribute more efficiently' are well-chosen and accurate. The language is precise and fits the professional tone required for this task. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, incorporating a few more sophisticated collocations or less common professional terms could elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient to convey your message clearly and professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

Your writing displays a high level of grammatical accuracy. You use a variety of sentence structures, including complex sentences like 'I would be grateful if the company could support me by covering the course fee and allowing me to use the company's learning resources if needed.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing a strong command of English grammar suitable for a professional environment.

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